Soup, And Maybe A Tray, On The Menu As Live Oak Looks For Saturday Stakes Double

With seven Keeneland stakes victories on its resume, Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation is on the verge of achieving a Keeneland tray as part of the track’s signature Milestone Trophy Program. A total of 21 trays have been awarded with the first to Hasty House Farm during the 1955 Spring Meet and the most recent to Shadwell Stable during this year’s Spring Meet.

On Saturday, two Live Oak’s 3-year-olds – Soup and Sandwich and Souper Sensational – will try to earn a tray to hold eight Keeneland Trophy Cups when they go postward in the $150,000 Perryville and $250,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2), respectively. Mark Casse trains both runners.

Homebred Soup and Sandwich will be making his first start since displacing his soft palate while being eased in the Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 1.

“We targeted this race a few months ago and wanted to bring him back against 3-year-olds,” Casse said via text about the Into Mischief colt, who won his first two starts and then was second in the Florida Derby (G1).

Soup and Sandwich will break from post one under Tyler Gaffalione in the 7-furlong Perryville.

Two races later, Souper Sensational brings a 9-3-3-1 career mark into the Lexus Raven Run, also at 7 furlongs. She has sprinted in her past four starts following a trio of two-turn efforts at Fair Grounds over the winter.

“I think Souper Sensational is a better sprinter; a mile is about as far as she wants to go,” Casse said of the daughter of Curlin, who was second in the Test (G1) in her most recent start at 7 furlongs.

Ricardo Santana Jr. retains the mount Saturday and will break from post three.

Casse will have one other runner in the Lexus Raven Run in Miss Speedy, who is owned by the partnership of Gary Barber, Ryan Shane Kerbel and Barry Kerbel.

Miss Speedy, who will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. from post 11, has won three of four starts over Woodbine’s all-weather surface.

“It is hard to say how she will handle the dirt,” Casse said. “But her breezes over it have been good.”